‘Operating without authority or mandate’

Ugandan MPs want to shut down PIBID banana project

The Ugandan parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended disbandment of the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID). The Committee wants the PIBID disbanded within 30 days after the adoption of the new accountability sector report by Parliament.

The politicians observed that "there is a risk that the project is currently operating without any authority and mandate in place."

The PAC further observed: "It is clear that the legal status of PIBID and its Board and Management Committee remains questionable. It was, therefore, noted that by the time of writing this report, no evidence was available from PIBID management to show that the issue of the legal status had been or is being resolved."

The committee also raised reservations that the Banana project has been operating without an approved business plan, despite banana research developing into a fully-fledged production level and expected to go into commercialisation of the product.

Allafrica.com reported how the committee further observed that Shs192.7 million (€45,000) meant for payment of services like fuel and utility costs was paid to personal accounts, contrary to established procedure.